HELP! please. Apologies for the idiot question....


Have a project '67 wagon that's been sitting awhile and now I'm getting to it and I've got no spark from the coil. Tried a spare - still no go. Someone (me) put in a pointless IPD kit long enough ago that I'm even sure that the coil/distributor/etc connections are proper.

Right now, the wires from the kit in the distro are connected to the proper coil terminals. There wire from the ignition switch that comes through the firewall is connected to the positive coil terminal, and there's a ground wire from the negative coil terminal to a bolt attached to the side of the engine compartment (the inside of the wheelwell).

Car will turn over; so I've got power and the ignition switch is good.

Are my connections wrong, or do I have two bad coils? Or something else?

Thanks

Drawings usually help a lot. I found a couple online. From your description I am guessing that you have the Crane ignition system:

http://www.cranecams.com/pdf/90002000a.pdf

But if you've got the Perlux, check this out:

http://www.pertronix.com/downloads/ignitor12vneg.pdf

Either way, the coil (-) wouldn't be tied to the chassis. That's the one you need to figure out.
--
Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- (I've taken to using Mr. because my name tends to mislead folks on the WWW. I am a 51 year old fat man ;-) -- KD5QBL

charmkin;

It's unlikely, but not impossible to have two bad coils, but your statement of "ignition switch is good" as a function of engine turning over is presumptious...in addition to supplying solenoid, IGN sw also needs to supply power to IGN system, and from symptoms, it sounds like it may not be...

...if you changed the IGN system with some sort of upgrade, then I suggest you first refer to those instructions and wiring diagram...

You also failed to state if the IGN EVER worked after this upgrade, and "ground wire from the negative coil terminal to a bolt attached to the side of the engine compartment (the inside of the wheelwell)." doesn't sound quite right either...normally the IGN coil negative side is connected to the (OE) points or (when changed to elecronic) the module which provides the electronic "points" switch...

...you had better give some more details, 'cause I cant make heads or tails out of your description...

Cheers

Sorry for the vague description and a big THANK-YOU for taking the time to try and help. But I got it.

"extra" ground was a mistake, plus somehow the plug wires were wrong. Guilty as charged on both accounts.

Now, on to getting rid of the hesitation at initial acceleration....have a weber the PO installed.

Open to any general advice....

thanks

Hesitation:

First I'd say start from scratch before attacking the carb. Get your timing set with a strobe, static will get it to run but that's not optimal. Do that a while, shut down after the t-stat is open and make sure the valves are adjusted to spec. Actually, I like them a little loose, .020-.022". Check the plug gaps, adjust as necessary.

Then see how it runs. Make sure the throttle plate isn't screwed so far in that you're off the idle circuit. That can throw off your reserve fuel in the accel circuit and lead to a brief lapse in delivery.

IF you're not off the idle circuit and the carb is tuned, then the acceleration circuit could have an internal leak and not be holding that fuel to get you smoothly between primary and secondary circuits. Try the float level in that case.
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1966 122s, 1970 142s, 1974 142e... Blue is Beautiful